Those in the Northern Territory are struggling to pay to access the Internet and for mobile phone plans. Low-income households and those in remote areas are experiencing extreme financial hardship as more services move online.
If we exclude satellite services, around 25,000 Territorians (10 per cent of the population) are without internet or mobile access. This has led to higher rates of digital exclusion in the Northern Territory.
Many residents rely solely on mobile phones to access to the Internet which is generally seen as being less value for money. This leads to those with the lowest incomes across Australia paying the most for their phone bill. NTCOSS’s 30th Cost of Living Report shows that the poorest households are paying 8.3% of their disposable income on telecommunications.